Russia is evacuating residents of Kherson
Russia has decided to evacuate residents from the eastern city of Kherson occupied by Ukraine. They will be evacuated to the Russian mainland. Residents were advised to evacuate quickly on Thursday (October 13) in the face of advancing Ukrainian forces. It is said that residents should leave the area for their own safety.
Russian forces captured Kherson as the first city after Moscow's campaign began on February 24. Southern Kherson is one of the four regions of Ukraine that Russia has recently annexed to its territory. However, after annexation to the Russian Federation, Ukraine continued to retake the territory and counter-attack.
In this situation, Russia has announced the evacuation of ordinary people from the southern part of Ukraine. Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-appointed leader of the Kherson region, called on civilians to evacuate the area, Al-Jazeera reported. Basically, he gave this instruction by referring to the daily rocket attacks and offensives of the Ukrainian forces.
Meanwhile, Ukraine claims Kherson as its own territory and rejects accusations of rocket attacks targeting its own citizens. Ukrainian troops recently recaptured some areas of northwestern Kherson from Russian occupation. This area is located near the regional capital city of Kherson.
BBC reports Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnulin has special responsibilities for southern Russia and Crimea. He said, "The government has decided to provide assistance to the residents of (Kherson) region to move to other parts of the country." He further said, 'We will provide free accommodation and everything necessary to everyone.'
Rostov Region Governor Vasily Golubev said the first group of civilians from Kherson would arrive in Russia's Rostov Region on Friday (October 14). Rostov region will accept and accommodate everyone who wants to come to us from Kherson region.
Russia started military operations in Ukraine in February this year. Western countries have provided massive arms support to the operation and continue to do so. However, among other weapons, Ukraine is increasingly using the US-supplied Humerus rocket system. They are attacking key Russian-held military targets and threatening to recapture most of Russian forces on the west bank of the Dnieper River (known as Dnipro in Ukraine).
Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-appointed leader of the Kherson region, said on Thursday that many cities in the region, including the two main cities of Kherson and Nova Kakhovka, are now under daily rocket fire from Ukrainian forces. He said that such attacks are causing serious damage to the residents of the entire region and particularly the residents of the western bank of the Dnieper River. And so he urged the people of these areas to move to Russia or Crimea.
